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TEP-0127: Larger Results via Sidecar Logs
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Today, `Results` have a size limit of 4KB per `Step` and 12KB per `TaskRun` in the best case - see [issue][4012].

The goal of [TEP-0086][tep-0086] is to support larger `Results` beyond the current size limits. TEP-0086 has many
alternatives but no proposal. This TEP is proposes experimenting with one of the alternatives - `Sidecar` logs.
This allows us to support larger `Results` that are stored within `TaskRun` CRDs.

[4012]: tektoncd/pipeline#4012
[4808]: tektoncd/pipeline#4808
[tep-0086]: https://github.com/tektoncd/community/blob/main/teps/0086-changing-the-way-result-parameters-are-stored.md
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---
status: implementable
title: Larger Results via Sidecar Logs
creation-date: '2022-11-30'
last-updated: '2022-11-30'
authors:
- '@chitrangpatel'
- '@jerop'
see-also:
- TEP-0086
---

# TEP-0127: Larger Results via Sidecar Logs

<!-- toc -->
- [Summary](#summary)
- [Motivation](#motivation)
- [Goals](#goals)
- [Non-Goals](#non-goals)
- [Use Cases](#use-cases)
- [Proposal](#proposal)
- [Feature Gate](#feature-gate)
- [Logs Access](#logs-access)
- [Size Limit](#size-limit)
- [PipelineRun Status](#pipelinerun-status)
- [Design Details](#design-details)
- [Design Evaluation](#design-evaluation)
- [Reusability](#reusability)
- [Simplicity](#simplicity)
- [Performance](#performance)
- [Security](#security)
- [Experiment Questions](#experiment-questions)
- [References](#references)
<!-- /toc -->

This TEP builds on the hard work of many people who have been tackling the problem over the past couple years,
including but not limited to:
- '@abayer'
- '@afrittoli'
- '@bobcatfish'
- '@dibyom'
- '@imjasonh'
- '@pritidesai'
- '@ScrapCodes'
- '@skaegi'
- '@tlawrie'
- '@tomcli'
- '@vdemeester'
- '@wlynch'

## Summary

Today, `Results` have a size limit of 4KB per `Step` and 12KB per `TaskRun` in the best case - see [issue][4012].

The goal of [TEP-0086][tep-0086] is to support larger `Results` beyond the current size limits. TEP-0086 has many
alternatives but no proposal. This TEP is proposes experimenting with one of the alternatives - `Sidecar` logs.
This allows us to support larger `Results` which are stored within `TaskRun` CRDs.

## Motivation

`Results` are too small - see [issue][4012]. The current implementation of `Results` involves parsing from disk and
storing as part of the `Termination Message` which has a limit of 4KB per `Container` and 12KB per `Pod`. As such,
the size limit of `Results` is 12KB per `TaskRun` and 4KB per `Step` at best.

To make matters worse, the limit is divided equally among all `Containers` in a `Pod` - see [issue][4808]. Therefore,
the more the `Steps` in a `Task` the less the size limit for `Results`. For example, if there are 12 `Steps` then each
has 1KB in `Termination Message` storage to produce `Results`.

[TEP-0086][tep-0086] aims to support larger `Results`. [TEP-0086][tep-0086] has many [alternatives][tep-0086-alts] with
no proposal because there's no obvious "best" solution that would meet all the requirements.

This TEP proposes experimenting with `Sidecar` logs to support larger `Results` that are stored with `TaskRun` CRDs.
This allows us to provide an immediate solution to the urgent needs of users, while not blocking pursuit of the other
alternatives.

### Goals

The main goal is to support larger `Results` that are limited by the size of a `TaskRun` CRD (1.5MB) via `Sidecar` logs.

### Non-Goals

The following are out of scope for this TEP:

1. Solving use cases that requires really large `Results` beyond the size limit of a CRD (1.5MB).

2. Addressing other [alternatives][tep-0086-alts] for larger `Results` that are listed in [TEP-0086][tep-0086].

### Use Cases

1. Store larger `Results`, such as JSON payloads from an HTTP call or a Cloud Event, that can be inspected later or
passed to other `Tasks` without the need to understand storage mechanisms.

3. The [documented guidance][docs] is that `Results` are used for outputs less than 1KB while `Workspaces` are used
for larger data.

> As a general rule-of-thumb, if a `Result` needs to be larger than a kilobyte, you should likely use a `Workspace`
to store and pass it between `Tasks` within a `Pipeline`.

Supporting larger `Results` upto the CRD limit allows users to reuse `Tasks` in more scenarios without having to
change the specification to use `Workspaces` upon hitting the current low size limit of 4KB per `TaskRun`.

## Proposal

We propose using stdout logs from a dedicated `Sidecar` to return a json `Result` object to support larger `Results`.
The `Pipeline` controller would wait for the `Sidecar` to exit and then read the logs based on a particular query and
append `Results` to the `TaskRun`.

We propose injecting the dedicated `Sidecar` alongside other `Steps`. The `Sidecar` will watch the `Results` paths of
the `Steps`. This `Sidecar` will output the name of the `Result` and its contents to stdout in a parsable pattern. The
`TaskRun` controller will access the stdout logs of the `Sidecar` then extract the `Results` and its contents.

After the `Steps` have terminated, the `TaskRun` controller will write the `Results` from the logs of the `Sidecar`
instead of using the `Termination Message`, hence bypassing the 4KB limit. This method keeps the rest of the current
functionality identical and does not require any external storage mechanism.

For further details, see the [demonstration][demo] and [proof of concept][poc].

This provides an opportunity to experiment with this solution to provide `Results` within the CRDs as we continue to
explore other alternatives, including those that involve external storage.

### Feature Gate

This feature will be gated using a `result-extraction-method` feature flag.

Users have to set `result-extraction-method` to `"sidecar-logs"` to enable the feature:
```shell
kubectl patch cm feature-flags -n tekton-pipelines -p '{"data":{"result-extraction-method":"sidecar-logs"}}'
```

This feature is disabled by default. When disabled, `Results` continue to pass through `Termination Message`.

### Logs Access

This feature requires that the `Pipeline` controller has access to `Pod` logs.

Users have to grant `get` access to all `pods/log` to the `Pipeline` controller:
```shell
kubectl apply -f config/enable-log-access-to-controller/
```

### Size Limit

The size limit per `Result` can be `max-result-size` feature flag, which takes the integer value of the bytes.

The `max-result-size` feature flag defaults to 4096 bytes. This ensures that we support existing `Tasks` with only one
`Result` that uses up the whole size limit of the `Termination Message`.

If users want to set the size limit per `Result` to be something other than 4096 bytes, they can set `max-result-size`
by setting `max-result-size: <VALUE-IN-BYTES>`. The value set here cannot exceed the CRD size limit of 1.5MB.

```shell
kubectl patch cm feature-flags -n tekton-pipelines -p '{"data":{"max-result-size":"<VALUE-IN-BYTES>"}}'
```

Even though the size limit per `Result` is configurable, the size of `Results` are limited by CRD size limit of 1.5MB.
If the size of `Results` exceeds this limit, then the `TaskRun` will fail with a message indicating the size limit has
been exceeded.

### PipelineRun Status

In [TEP-0100][tep-0100], we proposed changes to `PipelineRun` status to reduce the amount of information stored about
the status of `TaskRuns` and `Runs` to improve performance and reduce memory bloat. The `PipelineRun` status is set up
to handle larger `Results` without exacerbating the performance and storage issues that were there before.

For `ChildReferences` to be populated, the `embedded-status` must be set to `"minimal"`. We recommend that the minimal
embedded status - `ChildReferences` - is enabled while migration is ongoing until it becomes the only supported status.

## Design Details

The `Sidecar` will run a binary that:
- receives argument for `Results`' paths and names identified from `taskSpec.results` field. This allows the `Sidecar`
to know the `Results` it needs to read.
- has `/tekton/run` volume mounted where status of each `Step` is written.
- periodically checks for `Step` status in the path `/tekton/run`.
- when all `Steps` have completed, it immediately parses all the `Results` in paths and prints them to stdout in a
parsable pattern.

For further details, see the [demonstration][demo] of the proof of concept.

## Design Evaluation

### Reusability

This proposal does not introduce any API changes to specification `Results`, the changes are in implementation details
of `Results`. The existing `Tasks` will continue to function as they are, only that they can support larger `Results`.

Even more, this supporting larger `Results` upto the CRD limit allows users to reuse `Tasks` in more scenarios without
having to change the specification to use `Workspaces` upon hitting the current low size limit of 4KB per `TaskRun`.
This allows users to control execution as needed by their context without having to modify `Tasks` and `Pipelines`.

### Simplicity

This proposal provides a simple solution that solves most use cases:
- Users don't need additional infrastructure, such as server or object storage, to support larger `Results`.
- Existing `Tasks` will continue to function as they are, while supporting larger `Results`, without any API changes.

### Performance

Performance benchmarking with 20-30 `PipelineRuns`, each with 3 `TaskRuns` each with two `Steps`:
- Average `Pipeline` controller's CPU difference during `PipelineRun` execution: 1%
- Average `Pipeline` controller's Memory usage difference during `PipelineRun` execution: 0.2%
- Average `Pod` startup time (time to get to running state) difference: 3s per `TaskRun`

In the experiment, we will continue to measure the startup overhead and explore ways to improve it.

For further details, see the [performance metrics][performance].

### Security

This approach requires that the `Pipeline` controller has access to `Pod` logs. The `Pipeline` controller already has
extensive permissions in the cluster, such as read access to `Secrets`. Expanding the access even further is a concern
for some users, but is also acceptable for some users given the advantages. We will document the extended permissions
so that users can make the right choice for their own use cases and requirements.

## Experiment Questions

These are some questions we hope to answer in the experiment:

- What impact does this change have on the start-up time and execution time of `TaskRuns` and `PipelineRuns`? Can we
improve the performance impact?

- How reliable is using `Sidecar` logs to process `Results`?

- How many users adopt this solution? How many are satisfied with it given the advantages and disadvantages? We will
conduct a survey soon after the feature has been released.

## References

- [TEP-0086: Larger Results][tep-0086]
- [TEP-0086: Larger Results via Sidecar Logs][745]
- [Implementation Pull Request][poc]
- [Demonstration by Chitrang][demo]

[docs]: https://tekton.dev/docs/pipelines/tasks/#emitting-results
[4012]: https://github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/issues/4012
[4808]: https://github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/issues/4808
[tep-0086]: ./0086-changing-the-way-result-parameters-are-stored.md
[tep-0086-alts]: ./0086-changing-the-way-result-parameters-are-stored.md#alternatives
[crd-size]: https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/82292
[tep-0100]: ./0100-embedded-taskruns-and-runs-status-in-pipelineruns.md
[demo]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NrWudE_XBqweomiY24DP2Txnl1yN0yD9/view
[poc]: https://github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/pull/5695
[performance]: https://github.com/tektoncd/community/pull/745#issuecomment-1206668381
[745]: https://github.com/tektoncd/community/pull/745
1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions teps/README.md
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Expand Up @@ -292,3 +292,4 @@ This is the complete list of Tekton teps:
|[TEP-0123](0123-specifying-on-demand-retry-in-pipelinetask.md) | Specifying on-demand-retry in a PipelineTask | proposed | 2022-10-11 |
|[TEP-0124](0124-distributed-tracing-for-tasks-and-pipelines.md) | Distributed tracing for Tasks and Pipelines | implementable | 2022-10-16 |
|[TEP-0125](0125-add-credential-filter-to-entrypoint-logger.md) | Add credential filter to entrypoint logger | proposed | 2022-10-27 |
|[TEP-0127](0127-larger-results-via-sidecar-logs.md) | Larger Results via Sidecar Logs | implementable | 2022-11-30 |

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